Ethiopia’s 11th Regional State goes official.

In a referendum held on September 30, residents of one special world and five zones voted in favor of seceding from the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ (SNNP) Regional state. Thirty days after the vote, the results were approved by Ethiopia’s upper house of parliament, opening the way for the foundation of the eleventh state of the East African nation, South West Ethiopia Regional State. The new state’s council will meet for the first time on Tuesday in Bonga town, with members expected to pick a chief regional administrator, house speaker, and deputy speaker. According to the state news agency, the council meeting will also approve the introduction of the regional flag, the adoption of the regional constitution, and related laws. The South-West Ethiopian people regional state includes the Kaffa, Sheka, Bench Sheko, Dawuro, West Omo zones, and Konta special woreda.